We look back at the year in sport for 1975. Half a century later, the events of that year still stand out as major turning points across several sports.
1975 marked a huge milestone for cricket with the inaugural ICC Cricket World Cup held in England (it was officially called the Prudential Cup). It was a 60-over format played in traditional white clothing with a red ball—very different from the coloured kits and night games we see today. Eight nations took part, including a team from East Africa (comprising players from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia). In the final at Lord’s, the Clive Lloyd led West Indies defeated Australia to lift the first-ever World Cup trophy. It was the beginning of a dominant era for Caribbean cricket.
In Formula One, Niki Lauda captured his first World Championship driving for Ferrari. Known for his meticulous approach and technical precision, Lauda’s win signaled the beginning of an intense and legendary era in F1.
In tennis, new stars were emerging. Björn Borg won his first French Open title at just 19 years old, showing the baseline power and calm demeanor that would define his career. In the women’s game, Evonne Goolagong claimed the Australian Open title, continuing her run as one of the top players of the decade. Her graceful style and trailblazing presence made her a standout figure in the sport.
The golfing world saw the rise of Tom Watson, who claimed his first major by winning The Open Championship at Carnoustie. Watson would go on to become one of the all-time greats, but 1975 was the year that launched his major-winning career.
In boxing, Muhammad Ali defended his heavyweight boxing title against Joe Bugner in Kuala Lumpur. The fight went the distance, with Ali winning on points. While it wasn’t one of his most thrilling bouts, having a world title fight in Southeast Asia was a rare and significant moment.
This is just a sample of the highlights from 1975. On our sports timeline, you can read more details of the sporting results from 1975.
